EMPATHY

It’s easy to think of empathy as “being nice.” But empathy is deeper. It’s the willingness to step outside yourself and see the world through another’s lens, even if you don’t agree with it. That angry colleague? Maybe they’re carrying the weight of a sick parent. The friend who’s been distant? Maybe they’re fighting battles you know nothing about. Empathy doesn’t excuse poor behaviour—it explains it. It allows you to soften your reaction. Instead of firing back, you pause. Instead of assuming, you ask.

But empathy isn’t just for others. It’s also for yourself. Think about how quickly you judge yourself—late to a meeting, fumbling a word, missing a workout. The harshness you reserve for yourself is harsher than anything you’d say to a loved one. Imagine what changes if you respond to your own mistakes with empathy: “I’m struggling. That’s okay. I’ll try again.”

Empathy builds connection. With others, it turns strangers into allies. With yourself, it turns shame into growth. Practicing it daily is difficult—it requires presence, humility, and patience. But the reward is freedom. Empathy frees you from the constant battle of judgment and lets you live with more understanding, less bitterness.